Job of the Week: Sequoia Recruits A Recruiter

Fancy yourself a discerning headhunter? Here’s an opportunity to join a first-class venture capital firm as a recruiter for its portfolio start-ups.

It is unusual but not unheard of for a venture capital or private equity firm to hire an in-house recruiter. It can also be common for the HR department of a private equity firm to include recruiting for the portfolio as part of its responsibilities.

One of the main roles of an in-house recruiter or HR professional may be to manage search firms and recruitment agencies as well as provide search services themselves. By coordinating in this way, some savings can be made on costs but also and, more importantly, their focus can speed up the recruitment process and make sure the recruitment need is properly specified, resulting in getting the right person into the role more quickly.

A recent appointment in this field was announced this week by Dallas-based private equity firm Teakwood Capital, which has just hired a managing director for talent. Mike Taylor will be responsible for hiring and retaining the right professionals for the buyout firm’s portfolio companies. Taylor boasts over 30 years’ experience in executive search and coaching within the technology and software sectors, having assisted Technology Crossover Ventures, Austin Ventures, and Battery Ventures in the private equity/venture capital realm as well as corporate names such as Solarc, Samsung, Freescale Semiconductor and GENBAND.

Taylor spent his last three years as a search partner at Cabot Consultants, where he helped open the Dallas office for the Washington, D.C. based firm in early 2009. Prior to that, he was a partner at Heidrick & Struggles for six years. There he developed the private equity/venture capital practice for both its inaugural Austin office as well as one in Dallas.

If Taylor’s career path appeals to you, then this week’s job of the week may well be the position you’ve been waiting for. Scroll down to find out more.

Job Description (as cited by Sequoia Capital): Sequoia is accepting Recruiter & Sourcer resumes on behalf of its portfolio companies. The successful candidate will be the first, and perhaps only, recruiting professional on the team. The recruiter will be tasked with setting up the entire recruitment process start-to-finish and building out the candidate pipeline.

• Previous start-up experience preferred. If no start-up experience, then must have at least worked at tech companies.
• Three plus years full-cycle recruiting or sourcing experience; ideally focused on technical positions.
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems.
• Must be local to bay area.